GM showcases Spark EV

Nino Marchetti EARTHTECHLING, 5th November 2013

The Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association Show (SEMA) is the place each year to showcase vehicles, concepts and otherwise, that are accessorized “to allow personalization while maintaining excellent refinement and ride characteristics.”

GM is looking to give the entry level lookingSpark EVa little extra pizazz with the SEMA concept design. The electric vehicle though, while not the most pretty looking on the outside, is definitely a bit of a beast when it comes to performance for a more budget oriented EV. Its electric drivetrain delivers 400 lb-ft of instant torque, said to be more than that of a 1969 Camaro SS muscle car with a 350 V-8, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 7.5 seconds. This gets lowered even a little further via the concept’s “unique power-delivery algorithm that enhances acceleration.”

image via GM

The Spark EV design study sports a number of interesting features besides the enhanced acceleration, which include,according to GM:

Body-color trim plates and green stitching on the shifter boot and steering wheel

A military-style flip-up “activation switch” on the instrument panel adds a fun, high-performance-oriented touch of style to this plug-in performer

As this is a concept, it isn’t clear exactly what features might become actual aftermarket accessories. The baseline Spark EV, available in California and Oregon at this point, prices for around $20,000 with tax incentives. It gets an estimated driving range of around 82 miles per charge, and via a fast recharge option can see up to 80 percent of its 21 kWh lithium ion battery pack recharged in around 20 minutes.